We are writing to make you aware of a food donation from Murray State University staff members initiated by the Senior Nursing class of 2013 as a group project and community assessment done by Amanda Burchnell, Heidi Murff and Jessica Harrison of Trigg County in our Community 402 class. The name of this project is One Can, Make a Difference, and we are collecting can foods/non-perishable items to donate to the Meeting Place Full Gospel Church. In assessing Trigg County, we were made aware of the fact that Trigg County has an unemployment rate of 9.3 percent, which is higher than the statewide unemployment rate of Kentucky at 8.1 percent. These times are difficult for many families due to increases in fuel prices, insurance, and limited job opportunities to raise healthy, happy families, and many families in Trigg County welcome the extra support.

The Meeting Place Full Gospel Church is located at 15695 Linton Road, Cadiz, and they are fortunate to be able to collect food/non-perishable items to give once a month to ninety or more families of Trigg County. There has been an increase within the past five years of families needing extra support in this area, and the Meeting Place Full Gospel Church is always in need of donations as more families are added each month that are in need of help to take care of their families.

Our Senior Nursing class and our instructor initiated the staff drive “One Can, Make a Difference” at Murray State University and we decorated boxes to locate in several different areas of the Murray State University campus area to collect can foods/non-perishable items for seven different counties located in Kentucky and Tennessee.

We were able to collect approximately 50 cans to donate to the Meeting Place Full Gospel Church. This is a small donation, but “one can does make a difference” to families in need around the community. This is a wonderful way to help the Trigg County community.

Overall, our senior nursing class and Murray State are honored to be able to help our local communities. The Meeting Place Full Gospel Church helps Trigg County families once every month by giving them food and supplies to support their families and they appreciate donations anytime from anyone who can donate.